Santa Baby

I would like to learn how to take better pictures and I figure practice makes perfect

right?...

Obviously the sun was way too bright and poor Sophie couldn't keep her eyes open

But I thought she was too chubby cute not to share.

December so far...

 Dora undies have made a special appearance at our home..

they are not permanent yet

I don't think either one of us is quite ready

My dad and brothers came to Boise to take Jayson to the Potato Bowl for his birthday 

My mom tagged along and we enjoyed the day shopping at the mall (with everyone else in Boise.) We also went to a Christmas concert that my niece and nephew sang in. It was quite amazing!

 For his 31st birthday Jayson requested Funfetti cake.

So grown up

Savannah enjoyed it almost as much as her dad

Happy Birthday Jayson! 

 Here's to the next 30 years. We love you!!

Savannah

Savannah is 2 years and 4 months. She keep us on our toes and is just delightful (most of the time). Here are a few of her latest and greatest...

• We are driving in the car to Costco one night and Jayson and I are singing Christmas songs. Savannah in the back seat, politely says "stop singing guys, no thank you," meaning she wants us to stop. After we tell her that we want to keep singing and proceed to do so, she yells at the top of her lungs "NO THANK YOU!  NOT EVER!"
• As mentioned before, she calls everyone "guys" and also likes calling Jayson and I by our first names. If she can't find Jayson she will yell really loud through out the house "Jays, Jays"
• Our nativity set is just out of Savannah's reach, but if she climbs a little she can get to the figures. I told her the story about the wise men and now all the wise men and shepherds are wise men. I find the figures strewn all around the house, usually is clumps of 2 or 3 facing each other like they are talking. Her favorite is, of course, baby Jesus. The manger he lays in has been renamed and is now "baby Jesus' car seat."  
• My mom lent us her living scripture vhs (yes, we still have a vhs player). Savannah loves watching the Jesus movies and will ask to watch them almost every day. 
• Jayson was telling Savannah to say goodnight to mom and Sophie and she says "no father, don't take me" She has been really into calling us mother and father. I guess we have the disney movies to thank for that.
• She loves praying for Anu on his mission. Many times through out the day she slaps a purse on her shoulder and waves goodbye to me. When I ask where she is going she says "Panama."
• She has just recently discovered that she can slide the kitchen chair around the house and it gives her the necessary height to reach lots of things- she really likes to "help" when I am cooking or cleaning the kitchen and will slide her little chair and climb up to stir, cook or taste.
• She has to sleep with the door open.
• We usually pray for Dad to come home safe and so she will ask Jayson in the morning "you go to work last night? you come home safe?"
• We are driving in the car and she is playing with her doll and says "be good, lay down. do you want me to sing songs? then lay down." (Which is exactly what we say to her every night in the bedtime routine). This one had Jayson and I laughing out loud in the car.  
• Recently got Dora (pronounced Doia) undies. She insisted on putting on not 1 but 3 pairs at once. She was helping me in the kitchen and all the sudden looked at me and said "oh no, I tinkled on Doia"  I don't think either one of us are quite ready to tackle the potty.  
• Savannah has learned her full name (first and last) and her address. Super cute.
• She has figured out that she has long hair and quite likes flinging it back and forth and tells me it is her "Rapunzel hair."
• Apparently I say "super duper" a lot, because Savannah is now saying "supey, dupey." Things are "supey dupey hot" or "be supey dupey careful" Pretty funny.

We sure love this little peanut and can't believe she is 2 1/2! 

Elder Andrew Hawks

We went to UT for my baby brother's missionary farewell on November 13th. He has been called to serve in the Panama City, Panama mission. I was so glad we could be there for the farewell. He did a great job and was really ready to go on a mission. Jayson only stayed for the farewell and then headed back to ID to work. The girls and I got to stay for 10 days with my family which was really fun since my sister Jen and her girls were also there.
It was very different to say goodbye to Andrew at the MTC vs. my older brothers. The new system at the MTC is pretty much a drop off for the missionary and the rest of us didn't get out of the car. Jason was able to get us a 15 passenger van so we could all drive together to Provo. 14 of the 15 seats were filled!

I will keeping a blog for this missionary while he his away

elderandrewhawks.blogspot.com

Jayson flew back into town the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we spent the weekend with the Clarks. We enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving this year. It has been 3 years since we celebrated with family. The weather was nice so we enjoyed lots of outdoor time playing basketball, playing in the playhouse and at the park.

 Grammy with Sophie and Ezzy 

These two cute cousins are only 3 weeks apart

Sophie had soiled her diaper/clothes and big sister was asleep in the room where the clothes were 

so...

Coleen found this outfit that was Natalie's

Thankful

I can't believe it is November already. That means we have been in our new home, with new job and a new baby for 6 months now! I can't believe how many blessings we have seen recently.

I love November and the extra effort to be thankful.  

So on this day I am thankful for...

...homemade baby food

thank you Kjersta for inspiring me

(peas)

And a delicious baby that seems to enjoy my creation

 at least most of the time

I am also thankful for this 2 year old big sister.

She is funny, smart, kind (most of the time), and super helpful

I am thankful for those who believe in me.

Thank you to Natalie for bringing these once hideous finds and helping me turn them into...

Six Months!

Holy smokes, I can't believe this little lady is 6 months old! She is pure joy. At the ripe old age of six months here is what she is up to...

               height: 26 in.                         weight: 18 lbs. 10 oz.                           head: ginormous

• NOT sleeping through the night- she sleeps for 12 hours but wakes up once to eat and I am too tired/lazy to break this habit. Plus I secretly like the nighttime alone time.
• finally sleeping in the crib (thank you Savannah for deciding the big girl bed isn't too bad) 
• still nursing like a champ
• finally getting the hang of rice cereal
• smacking her lips when she sees food- were we surprised she would like food... no
• sitting up unassisted
• rolling all over the place
• grabbing and eating her toes
• putting everything she gets her hands on into her mouth
• babbling- sometimes so loudly that we have to leave church
• loves her exersaucer, johnny jumper and the stroller
• such a happy spirited and content baby
• adores her big sister- most of the time
• is a mama's girl 

This little love is just the perfect addition to our family!  

Happy 6 months baby girl!

Halloween!

I knew I was going to miss Omaha - going to the annual dental school Halloween parade and the Botanical Gardens trick or treating- so I decided to start my own festivities this year.

When I woke Savannah up I told her it was Halloween and she immediately asked if she could put her cow costume on. Sure.  

My little cow and I (along with the sleeping zebra-or snow leopard) listened to scary music (thank you pandora for having a children's halloween station) and made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to take to dad's office.  

We showed up to the dental office and paraded our costumes and delivered some treats. We then headed to the grocery store- still in costume.

When dad came home we had white chicken chili (delish!) and then carved our last minute pumpkin just in time for the first trick or treater to show up at our door.

We took Savannah to about 10 houses on our circle and she loved it! She knew just what to say "Happy Halloween" and "trick or treat." Sophie was a trooper and snuggled in the stroller looking cute.

Pumpkin Carving FHE 10/24

I am a little dissapointed by the quality of our costume pictures- so I might re-do them :)  

Gardner Village

We were in UT for less than 48 hours last weekend. Jayson couldn't miss the annual brother fishing trip and I didn't want him to drive by himself (both local brothers were already in UT or en route) so I loaded up the girls and we hit the road Friday afternoon and enjoyed a day and a half with family.

Jayson thoroughly enjoyed himself fishing with his brothers. He said he caught a few fish all day and that his dad showed up for 2 hours towards the end of the day and caught 6!

I elected not to go fishing and instead got my mom and sil to go to Gardner Village with me. It was a little chilly but really fun to see all of the great decorations and lots of witches walking around everywhere. It was fun to walk through all the shops and I am kicking myself for not getting a witch hat while we were there. Maybe next year...

 As usual this babe was a delight to shop with

 Savannah was so excited to see cousin Eloise

 Mimi and 3 of the 5 grand-girls

The cookie Savannah is holding was quite delicious

This poor thing stayed up until 10 pm the previous night watching a "scary movie" with grammy and the cousins and then missed her nap due to our outing. 

She just improvised and fell asleep in the stroller- so sweet. She is still my big baby even though she is so grown up.

Thank you to my mom and Courtney for making the day lots of fun! 

It really got us ready for Halloween.

Cereal

She did surprisingly well with her first taste of solids

No funny faces or gagging 

but 

we knew she would love food

Linder Farms

Last weekend, the sun was finally shinning and so we ventured out to Linder Farms, a local pumpkin patch. We were told to not expect much (especially coming from Vala's last year), but we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of things to do. There were bounce houses, a mechanical bull, a mini corn maze, homemade donuts and cider (delicious), but of course, our favorite part was the hayride and picking out our very own pumpkin.   

 taking a break during the mini corn maze

 I feel kind of bad, but it was hilarious 

Poor thing just tripped and landed spread eagle

 

What a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon